The creation of OSHA regulations created a market for produts that will help companies comply with those regulations.
- Click here for the Wikipedia on W.W. Grainger.
W. W. Grainger, Inc., is an American Fortune 500 industrial supply company founded in 1927 in Chicago by William W. (Bill) Grainger. He founded the company to provide consumers with access to a consistent supply of motors. The company now serves more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with offerings such as motors, lighting, material handling, fasteners, plumbing, tools, and safety supplies, along with inventory management services and technical support. Revenue is generally from business-to-business sales rather than retail sales. Grainger serves its customers through a network of approximately 331 branches, online channels (such as Grainger.com, KeepStock and eProcurement), and 34 distribution facilities.
- Click here for the Wikipedia entry on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces. The United States Congress established the agency under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), which President Richard M. Nixon signed into law on December 29, 1970. OSHA's mission is to "assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance." The agency is also charged with enforcing a variety of whistleblower statutes and regulations. OSHA's workplace safety inspections have been shown to reduce injury rates and injury costs without adverse effects on employment, sales, credit ratings, or firm survival.
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1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501)
6,307 violations
It's important to take precautions against injury from falls, even when employees are working at heights as low as four feet. Select proper fall protection for each employee and regularly inspect all equipment used for working at heights. Guardrail systems, safety net systems and personal fall arrest systems all offer protection from falling hazards.
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200)
2,888 violations
Warn employees, contractors, temporary employees and visitors about hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Businesses need to develop, implement and maintain written hazard communication programs describing how they'll maintain warning labels and safety data sheets (SDSs), train employees and meet other relevant OSHA requirements.
3. Ladders (1926.1053)
2,573 violations
Use ladders safely in the workplace. One of OSHA's most frequently violated requirements says that ladders that aren't long enough to extend at least three feet above the upper landing surface must be secured to a rigid support and outfitted with a grab rail or other grasping device.
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134)
2,470 violations
Respiratory protection programs are a significant line of defense against hazardous airborne contaminants. Businesses should provide medical evaluations to determine employees' ability to use respirators at work. They should also make sure employees are fit-tested before they use a respirator for the first time, whenever they switch respirator brands or models, and at least once a year afterward.
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147)
2,443 violations
Employees servicing or maintaining machines or equipment can be exposed to serious harm if hazardous energy is not properly controlled using lockout/tagout devices and procedures. The procedures to shut down, isolate, block and secure machines need to be developed and documented, along with specific steps to place, remove and transfer lockout/tagout devices.
6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178)
2,248 violations
Employees who work with or near forklifts and other industrial vehicles are exposed to serious hazards. Safe operation of these vehicles is critical. Companies need to certify that vehicle operators have been trained and evaluated according to OSHA requirements, documenting the training date, evaluation data and name of the evaluator. Certified operators need to have refresher training and evaluation at least once a year.
7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503)
2,050 violations
When employees may be exposed to fall hazards, it's important to train them to recognize those hazards and to follow procedures that can minimize them. Employers should keep written certification records that include employees' names, training dates and signatures of trainers or employers.
8. Scaffolding (1926.451)
1,873 violations
Scaffolding must be designed, constructed, maintained, inspected and used in a way that meets OSHA regulations. It's important that workers on scaffolding be protected from falling to lower levels. On many types of scaffolding guardrail systems are necessary. Some types of scaffolding require employees to have personal fall arrest systems as well.
9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102)
1,814 violations
OSHA requires employees to use eye and face protection when they're exposed to eye and face hazards. These hazards include flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors and light radiation.
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212)
1,541 violations
Employees who operate or work near some kinds of machinery need to be protected from the hazards associated with that equipment. Machines with rotating or reciprocating motions and pinch or shear points deserve close attention, as do machines that generate chips, debris, splashes, sparks or sprays.
